§ 22. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War how many ships are now engaged in carrying prisoner of war parcels from Lisbon to Marseilles; and what arrangements are being made for additional tonnage to clear the accumulation at Lisbon, owing to the accident which occurred to the steamship "Vega" on 26th December?
§ Mr. SandysHitherto there have been three ships engaged in carrying Red Cross parcels from Lisbon to Marseilles. One of these, the "Vega," is temporarily disabled, but it is hoped that this vessel will again be available in two or three weeks' time. In order to clear the accumulation of parcels at Lisbon, the 12 British Red Cross Society have chartered two additional ships.
§ Sir A. KnoxWere not these arrangements in train last Tuesday, when the Secretary of State for War made a very misleading statement al to the position regarding parcels? What was the reason which led the Red Cross two days later to issue an official statement contradicting the statement by the Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. SandysI am not aware of any statement contradicting the statement of the Secretary of State for War, which merely conveyed to the House the information he had received from the Chairman of the British Red Cross Society.
§ Sir A. KnoxHow was it that the situation in [...]gard to parcels to prisoners of war completely changed in two days? On Thursday the Red Cross issued a statement in which they said that each prisoner would receive one parcel per week during February and March. Is my hon. Friend aware that relatives and friends of prisoners of war were frightened by the statement of the Secretary of State for War?
§ Sir W. DavisonDoes this not show that the liaison between the War Office and the Red Cross is by no means satisfactory, and cannot the arrangement be made at once for closer co-operation?
§ Mr. SandysThe relations between the War Office and the Red Cross are close and cordial.
§ 23. Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are being made for the provision of food and clothing parcels for the British, Australian and Indian prisoners taken in Malaya and Singapore?
§ Mr. SandysThe consent of the Japanese Government is necessary before any parcel service to British prisoners in Japanese hands can be started. Active steps are being taken to secure this consent as quickly as possible.
§ Sir A. KnoxDoes not my hon. Friend agree that at a moment like this, when there are 60,000 or 70,000 new prisoners in the Far East, it is very wrong to change from one man to another, who cannot possibly have the foreign contacts or the business experience?
§ Mr. SandysIt is not for the Government to concern themselves with the internal staff arrangements of an independent voluntary body. There is no reason to suppose that the organisation will be detrimentally affected by the change that has been made.
§ Sir W. DavisonDoes my hon. Friend say that the relations between the Red Cross and the Government are so close when an important person who gave his services without pay to the Red Cross has to leave because he does not agree with the policy? Surely the Government ought to have something to say in the matter?
§ Mr. SandysThe Red Cross should have something to say also.
§ Sir Percy HarrisDo not [...] Government realise that the House thinks it is a Government responsibility to look after these people?
§ Mr. SandysNo, Sir, the Government do not accept responsibility for the services provided by the British Red Cross.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the hon. Gentleman say that the Government absolve themselves from responsibility for the care of prisoners of war?
§ Sir A. KnoxI beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.